I was just debating the pronunciation of tofu with a friend. It's not spelled tofeux after all. This same friend insisted that the pronunciation of empire, in "empire waist" blouse is empeereh. That can't possibly be right, right?

Doesn't really matter does it? So long as the other person understands you. I should imagine people who mispronounce it are doing so out of ignorance rather than trying to sound like a French aristocrat.